How often do you truly think about your sleep habits? Well, if you constantly look tired and older than your years, it might be time to reevaluate them! Believe it or not, the way you sleep can have a considerable impact on how you look.
Whether it’s wrinkles, under-eye bags, or a dull complexion, poor sleep can make you look older than you are. This article will list the different sleep habits that make you look older and how you can stop yourself from doing them.
How Do You Develop Bad Sleep Habits?
Most people have experienced sleepless nights at some point in their lives. But for some, poor sleep is a regular occurrence. Many factors can contribute to bad sleep habits, including stress, anxiety, and pain. Often, these factors can interact, making it even more challenging to get a good night’s rest. For example, someone dealing with anxiety may find it hard to relax at night, leading to restless sleep.
Or someone in pain may find it difficult to fall asleep in the first place. Over time, these poor sleep habits can affect physical and mental health. If you’re struggling to get a good night’s sleep, you must talk to your doctor about ways to improve your sleep habits.
Sleep Habits That Make You Look Older
While some bad sleep habits you have no control over, such as snoring, there are other habits that you can change. These include:
Not Getting Enough Sleep
Lack of sleep can negatively affect your health, including making you look older. Most people need around eight hours of sleep a night. However, according to a recent survey, more than one-third of American adults get less than that on a regular basis. When you don’t get enough sleep, your body produces more of the stress hormone cortisol. This hormone breaks down collagen, the protein that gives your skin its elasticity.
As a result, you may develop wrinkles or fine lines. In addition, lack of sleep can cause your skin to lose its natural moisture, making it drier and more likely to show age-related damage, such as age spots. So if you want to keep your skin looking young and healthy, make sure you get enough shut-eye.
Sleeping On Your Side
As you age, your skin starts to lose its elasticity. This decrease in elasticity can cause wrinkles and fine lines to form, particularly around the eyes and mouth. One sleep habit that can make these wrinkles worse is sleeping on your side. When you do this, your face presses against the pillow, causing creases to form. Over time, these creases can become permanent.
In addition, sleeping on your side can cause fluid to build up in the area around your eyes, leading to puffiness and dark circles. Try sleeping on your back instead to help keep your skin looking its best. This position helps to prevent creases from forming and allows your skin to retain its moisture better. As a result, you’ll wake up looking refreshed and well-rested – not to mention younger!
Sleeping With A TV On
Nearly two-thirds of Americans report watching TV in bed. While there are certainly benefits to unwinding with your favorite show before hitting the hay, sleeping with the TV on can make your skin seem aged. The blue light emitted from screens suppresses the production of melatonin, a hormone that helps to regulate our sleep cycle. This disruption can lead to decreased levels of REM sleep, which is essential for cell repair and regeneration.
In addition, exposure to blue light increases levels of inflammation, a major contributor to premature aging. So, if you want to keep your skin looking young and radiant, it might be time to give up your late-night TV habit.
Using Cotton Pillow Cases
Have you ever noticed that some people seem to age overnight while others maintain a youthful appearance for years? This difference can be due to lifestyle choices, and one surprising factor is the type of pillowcase you use. Cotton pillowcases are a popular choice because they are soft and inexpensive but can accelerate the aging process.
The fabric is absorbent, drawing moisture away from the skin overnight. This can lead to fine lines, wrinkles, and dryness. In contrast, silk pillowcases provide a smooth, cool surface that helps to prevent moisture loss. As a result, using a silk pillowcase is a simple sleep habit that can help you maintain a youthful appearance.
Sleeping In Too Hot Of A Room
When you sleep in a room that is too warm, your skin doesn’t have the opportunity to repair itself overnight. The increased temperature causes your skin to produce more collagen, which gives you wrinkles. In addition, sleeping in a hot room dehydrates your skin, making it more susceptible to wrinkles and fine lines. If you want to keep your skin looking young and fresh, stick to a cool room temperature when you sleep.
The optimal room temperature for sleep is between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit. So, if you find yourself tossing and turning in the heat, try turning down the thermostat before heading to bed. You’ll stay cool and comfortable all night long – and your skin will thank you in the morning!
Sleeping With Makeup On
Like some women, you may not give much thought to taking your makeup off before going to bed. After all, it’s just one more thing to add to your already lengthy nighttime routine. However, sleeping with your makeup on is a sleep habit that can age you. Here’s why: when you don’t remove your makeup before bed, it can clog your pores and lead to breakouts.
Sleeping in your makeup means you’re not giving your skin a chance to breathe, which can lead to dullness and premature aging. So next time you’re tempted to just hit the pillow without taking off your mascara, remember that it’s worth the extra effort to preserve your youthful appearance.
Eating Sugar Right Before Bed
It’s well-known that sugar is bad for your waistline, but did you know it can also make you look older? Eating sugar right before bed is a sleep habit that can cause wrinkles and fine lines. When you eat sugary foods before bed, your body releases insulin to process the sugar. Insulin is a hormone that encourages your body to store fat and stimulates the production of inflammation-causing molecules.
Furthermore, eating sugar before bed can cause your body to release cortisol, the stress hormone. Cortisol can break down collagen, the protein that makes your skin look smooth and elastic. As a result, if you want to keep your skin looking young and healthy, it’s best to avoid eating sugar right before bed.
Avoid These Sleep Habits That Make You Look Older!
It’s important to be aware of the different sleep habits that can age you to keep your skin looking its best. From using the wrong pillowcase to sleeping in a hot room, there are several simple things you can change to make sure you look young and fresh – even after a full night’s rest. So, if you want to turn back the clock, start with these easy tips! Remember that while you can improve some skin conditions through these changes, your best option is to speak with a dermatologist.
